We aren't quite sure how the Pittsburgh Steelers do it, but they seem to be professionals at finding troubled wide receivers.
For a while now, it's seemed as though Pittsburgh seems to get their hands on wideouts who go on to have plenty of character concerns during their later years after being drafted by the Steelers.
One of the latest who fits that mold is former Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who spent five years with the team before ultimately moving on to the Carolina Panthers. Then, after less than half a season with the Panthers, Johnson was traded back to the AFC North prior to this year's deadline.
Now with the Baltimore Ravens, Johnson's usage has been limited since joining Baltimore, which has led to many fans having questions as to what's going on. Most recently, in Week 13, Johnson's absence from the field seemed puzzling. Why didn't the Ravens use him?
It turns out, the team wanted to use him, but Johnson refused to enter the game for some reason.
Just Wednesday, it was announced that Johnson had been suspended for one game by the Ravens.
Speculation over Diontae Johnson's future with the Ravens is not a good look for Baltimore
Furthermore, there has been growing speculation over Johnson's future with Baltimore. If the relationship is already damaged, there, then what's going to happen for the rest of this season?
Johnson is in the final year of his contract, so whatever is going on behind the scenes isn't a good look for him as he enters free agency in 2025. Speaking of free agency, there are also whispers that Johnson could even be cut.
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Now, count that as purely hypothetical at this point, because if the Ravens did decide to release Johnson just weeks after acquiring him, then they would be shooting themselves in the foot. Baltimore has long been masterful when it comes to playing the compensatory pick game, and if they released Johnson before season's end, they'd be out of that draft pick should he sign elsewhere next spring.
For Baltimore, that compensatory pick is going to be big, because they're already out a fifth rounder after acquiring him to begin with. Sure, they also received a sixth rounder in return from Carolina, and maybe that mere pick swap was indicative of things to come.
Maybe, the Ravens were able to get him so cheap because there were, indeed, issues going on behind the scenes. It all makes sense now, you could say.
Regardless, things are looking even better for the Steelers after moving on from him when they did.
Now, if only Mike Tomlin could get George Pickens under control.